Fact or Opinion (Remembering)
“College is harder than high school.”
What is an Opinion?
Paraphrase this:
“College success is more about effort than intelligence.”
It means working hard is more important than being naturally smart.
Your roommate insists their opinion is a fact. What could you do?
Ask them for evidence or credible sources.
Identify the cause:
“Students who sleep less often perform worse.”
Lack of sleep causes poor performance.
Is this claim credible? “I read it on TikTok.”
No, not necessarily—need reliable evidence.
“Most bachelor’s degrees require at least 120 credit hours.”
What is a Fact?
What’s the main idea of this statement:
“Not all sources online are credible”?
You must evaluate information before trusting it.
A friend shares misinformation on social media. How can you respond critically?
Verify facts before commenting or sharing.
What evidence supports the claim:
“Exercise improves focus”?
Research studies showing brain benefits of exercise.
Which is stronger evidence: one blog or multiple peer-reviewed studies?
Peer-reviewed studies.
“Students who take good notes always get better grades.”
What is an Opinion?
When someone says
“That’s just your opinion,” what are they implying?
They think your statement isn’t supported by facts.
You must decide between two classes with similar topics. How can you use critical thinking?
Compare course outcomes, workload, and relevance to goals.
What’s the fallacy? “Everyone cheats a little, so it’s okay.”
Bandwagon fallacy (following the crowd, doesn't make it right).
Rate this argument:
“Students shouldn’t need attendance policies because adults are responsible.”
Moderate—depends on reasoning and context.
“The library is a campus resource for academic success.”
What is a Fact?
Identify the assumption:
“Students who don’t speak up in class don’t understand the material.”
It assumes quiet students are unprepared.
You read a confusing article — what’s a strategy to clarify it?
Summarize each paragraph and highlight key ideas.
Find the bias:
“Online learners are lazy.”
Stereotype/generalization.
You must choose between two opposing editorials. How do you decide which is more credible?
Check sources, author expertise, and supporting evidence.
“All successful people go to college.”
What is an Opinion?
Translate:
“Critical thinking is questioning your assumptions” into your own words.
Thinking means checking your own beliefs or biases.
How can you apply critical thinking to your budgeting as a student?
Evaluate needs vs wants, compare costs, and plan ahead.
Break this argument down:
“If you don’t major in STEM, you won’t get a good job.”
Faulty cause-effect and overgeneralization.
Evaluate this statement:
“Critical thinking can solve all problems.”
Overstated claim; thinking helps but doesn’t guarantee outcomes.